Wednesday: Don Sweeney has made it official, McAvoy will sign an ATO and play this weekend for the Providence Bruins.
Tuesday: According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, the Boston Bruins and uber-prospect Charlie McAvoy are working towards signing an amateur tryout to have the Boston University defender playing in Providence by the weekend. While some Bruins’ fans want him to join their defense corps right away, signing an ATO doesn’t actually preclude him from then signing an entry-level contract at a later date.
Picked 14th overall last summer, McAvoy has had another phenomenal season for BU and the US World Junior Team. Logging big minutes for one of the best teams in the country, McAvoy registered 26 points in 38 games and was a defensive presence in his own end. A smooth decision maker, McAvoy shows exceptional talent when retrieving pucks in his own end, eluding forecheckers and exiting the zone with ease. While his offensive abilities have a lot of upside, it’s his defensive growth that has scouts and fans so excited.
At the World Juniors McAvoy showed off that growth, registering six points in seven tournament games and leading his team to the gold medal. An alternate captain, it was his second time straight medal after winning bronze in the 2015-16 event. If he does turn pro, he’ll challenge for a spot on the Bruins’ blue line next season. Right-handed, he looks like a natural partner for Torey Krug down the line.
Gulp.
– Eastern Conference
Can he come up to the NHL on an ATO? I’m more of a fair weather hockey fan when it comes to rules. I know who the guys are, and I warn the games, but I haven’t spent enough time reading sites like this to figure out what certain things allow.
*Watch
He cannot. The ATO only covers AHL games, though he could still sign an entry-level deal at some point if they thought he was ready.
Ottawa is considering something similar with Colin White, who signed an ATO but will likely get his ELC before the end of the year.
Oh ok. Thanks. Would the last 5 or however many games are left plus playoffs count as an entire year on the ELC, or is it a system like MLB service time?
It’s not like service time (though I wish it was). There is a rule called an entry-level slide, which allows for players under the age of 20 to play up to nine NHL games without burning a year of their ELC. McAvoy is only 19, but to my understanding is an exception because his birthday falls between Sep 16th and Dec 31st and would basically be counted as 20. His contract wouldn’t slide, and thus would burn a year if he signed an ELC for 2016-17.
No only if they play NHL games just like MLB. Their clock doesnt start until they play a game/get called up. Now unlike MLB the NHL has a 9 game limit where they can play 9 games before their ELC starts. So they have a 9 game buffer to start the clock in hockey. Like MLB they will have to play so many games to shed their Rookie status
With MLB their contracts usually rookies or minor leaguers are just signing one year deals until they get to the MLB. With the MLB your clock starts when you play your first game in the league. That clock being 5-6 years of MLB control depending on how fast you get called up. The NHL however the team has priority of over that guy they drafted for 3 years. After that they become a Free Agent. If they do sign them to a ELC their Free Agent clock is 6 years from their draft year.
That’s not quite true Digi. His ELC starts whether he plays a game or not, it slides for another year if he’s both 18/19 and doesn’t play more than nine games. McAvoy isn’t eligible for a slide though.
If he signs his ELC this year (2016-17), it would expire following the 2018-19 season regardless of games played.
Do you think they will move to service time in the future?